A Quickie with Natalie Martin

Tell me about your latest book and why we should read it?

WHAT GOES DOWN is an emotionally turbulent story about family secrets and the limits to our love. Seph is a gifted artist who seemingly has it all: a great career, stable relationship and close family. Until a man she’s never met contacts her, claiming to be her real father. From there on in, everything around her begins to unravel, including her sanity. You should read it because it’s an honest look at relationships touched by loss and mental illness. And also because it’s set in the present day and 1987-1988 – perfect if you’re an 80’s fan, like me.

If someone was to write your life story what would the title be?

The girl who’s life mirrored far too many novel plots.

What’s the strangest fan question or request you’ve received?

I got asked if I’d ever consider writing erotica, and base the story on someone’s actual life once. That was weird.

If you could co-write with anyone in the world (alive or dead) who would it be?

It would most definitely have to be Joanne Harris. I read that she has synesthesia and experiences colours as smells. It sounds weird and isn’t even physically possible, but I’d love to get a glimpse of how she pulls that experience into a story. I adore her books.

Tell me something nobody else knows about you (yet!)

I have extremely sensitive feet. I can’t walk barefoot on anything grittier than a sandy beach because makes my stomach turn to a point where I feel sick. Even walking around the house can be tricky if there are bits on the floor. I’m a vacuum freak.

I’ve been reading a lot of non-fiction lately, so it’s been really nice to snuggle up with quality fiction and I loved this. Everything was so well thought out and the way the plot unfolded was like unwinding a ball of yarn. I really liked her writing style. In fact, I was a bit jealous.

Women Who Run With The Wolves by Dr Clarissa Pinkola Estes

This is actually a collection of short stories, fables and fairy tales, used to describe the female nature, how we get sick when it’s repressed and how to find it again. I haven’t finished it yet because it’s one of those you pick up and delve into now and again, but it hits the nail on the head when it comes to explaining the problems faced by women today.

Instructions For A Heatwave by Maggie O’Farrell

I picked this up at a flea market (which only had a tiny English books section) and devoured it straight away. I loved the rich language and mystery about why (and how) someone could simply disappear overnight. I’m a Maggie addict now 🙂

Who is Natalie Martin: In January 2014, Sheffield born Natalie Martin decided to leave her corporate job in London and experience the world – heading off on travels that would take her as far as Cambodia, North India, Goa, and Thailand, and would change her outlook on life for good. Whilst travelling in India, her debut novel Together Apart, became a No.1 bestseller on Amazon charts. Love You Better, her second full length novel, also became a bestseller on release in October 2015.

Natalie’s base is in London but she is very much a modern day nomad, never quite knowing where she’ll end up next. A trained Yoga instructor, Natalie is still traveling and indulging in her three loves: writing, yoga and surfing.